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C. J. F.WILFERT. SOUND HEPHODUCING APPARATUS. APPLICATION mso JUNE 5. 19:11.

1,308,566. Patented July I, 1919.

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C. J. F. WILFERT.

SOUND HEPHODUCING APPARATUS.

APPLICATHJN FILED JUNE 5.1918.

1 308,566. Patented July 1, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN J. F. WILFEBT, OF DOROHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 03F ONE-HALF TO HIMSELF, AND ONE-HALF TO GEORGE F. WILFER'I', F JAMAICA PLAIN, MASSA- CHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1, 1919.

Application filed June 5, 1918. Serial No. 238,362.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN J. F. ,WILFnnr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dorchester, county of Sufiolk, Com- 5 monwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound-Reproducing Apparatus, of which i the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements 1 in sound reproducing apparatus, especially phonographs, and has for its chief object to clarify and strengthen the reproduced sound by building up the tones and modifying the tone ratios and by eliminating there from the harsh mechanical tones caused by the operation of the apparatus itself.

My invention is based on the relation of elementary tones and of musical notes, which relation has long been a matter of exact knowledge. In brief, Iprovide a plurality of graduated tone chambers of varying size within a primary tone chamber with which 7' each individual graduated tone chamber independently communicates, whereby the reproduced tones are selectively and sympathetically augmented or reinforced and blended prior to their delivery from the apparatus so that the delivered sound is greatly improved. Further by combining with these graduated tone chambers a duplicate or triplicate horn construction, I am able to further 'beautifythe delivered sound, and -byincludingin the construction a-sounding board I'further clarify and amplify the tones-f l 3 While it has been roposed to strengthen the sound-reproduce in such devices such *auginentationhas usually resulted in an undesirable distortion of the proportions of 40 the-elementary'tones in'any tone'mixtur. Furthermore" such augmented tones have tended to jumble, especially in the reproductioi10farticulation;

' This I have overcome and avoided by independence of tone augmentations combined with a remixing .of such augmented tones. iOther'objects and advantages of my inventionzwill' appear more particularly hereinafter.

fFor' the purposes of this application, I.

have illustrated my invention in'itsap'plicatiou'to a phonograph'of thebuilt-incr'cabi 1 net type, although it'willbe'undemtobd that its principles are equally applicable to other forms and types of sound reproducing apparatus, and that this selection is purely for illustrative purposes.

T'he construction and operation of a selected embodiment of my invention which I have found highly satisfactory in use and well adapted to /the requirements of manufacture, is described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Throughout the drawings and specification like reference characters are correspondingly employed, and in the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of the tone chamber of a machine in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 i573, front vertical section therethrough.

Figs. 3 and at are respectively, a horizontal and a vertical section.

Considering first my ,tone chamber and amplifier member, I have indicated at 1 spaced vertical Walls having top and bottom horizontal closures 2 and vertical end closures 3 from which latter extend forwardly spaced side walls 4. having top and bottom walls 5.

The walls 1, 2 and 3 define a hollow sounding board through which the outwardly flaring sound. discharging ..horn or, amplifier f the phonograph passes, there being an opening 7 inthe upper wall 2.

whereby connection with the tonearm may be had.

The walls 3, t and .5 withv the amplifier 6 define a primary tone chamber 8 extending toward the front wall of the cabinet 12, which wall preferably has an opening therein coextensive with the delivery end of the tone chamber 8. Both the sounding board and amplifier 6 are made of properly res onant stock, as selected fine grain spruce.

As here shown, the amplifier 6 is of plural construction, having individual elements fi, 6 and 6 which are graduated in size and therefore respond individually to vibrations of-the particular tones to which they are re sponsive. It is, of course, impossible to avoid sympathetic response, which is characteristic of any amplifier whether of single orplural construction, but the triplicate anrangement shown, in which each amplifier is individually available to correct any defective tone unduly magnified by any other amplifier, relieves this defect to a marked extent.

n order, however, to correct any falsity of tone in reproduction, as well as to insure that each tone will. receive correct amplifica tion according to its original value in the selection being played, I provide a series of sympathetic resonators, each responsive to vibrate in sympathy with a difierent tone and each independent of the others so that all possibility of the tones being jumbled is eliminated.

As here shown, these sympathetic resonators may be a plurality of tone chambers of graduated size arranged within the main chamber 8 and individually communicating therewith and with the amplifier. These graduated chambers are indicated by the numerals 9, l0 and 11, and are included within the area defined by the walls 1., 3, 4 and 5, being individually separated from each other by longitudinal partitions 9 10 and 11 inclined partitions, 9 10" and 11, and transverse partitions 9, 10 and 11. Each chamber iudii'idually communicates with the amplifier through suitable openings, 9 10, and 11 and with the main chamber 8 through suitable openings 9 10 and 11 The seventh chamber is formed at the base of the vertical section being partitioned off from the rest by the wall 5 through which it. is suitably vented as indicated at 17 into the main amplifier.

My tone chamber casing 3 and its ampli fier are hung from its projecting top memher 2 which rests on the usual shoulder formed along the sides of the phonograph cabinet, thus sustaining these responsive elements free from the rest of the cabinet. The mouth of the amplifier 8 coincides with the usual sound discharge opening at the front of the cabinet.

By making the chambers of graduated capacity, each is individually keyed to vibrute in sympathy with a tone to which no other chamber will accurately respond. This provides against the tones being jumbled as well as insuring that each tone will receive its proper aocentuation.

Various modifications in the form and construction of my device may obviously be resorted to if within the limits of the appended claims.

VVhat I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In sound reproducing apparatus, in combination, a conveyer adapted to communicate with a source of reproduced sound and consisting of a plurality of outwardly flaring nested conduits of graduated size and of individually different responsivity, and

a plurality of outwardly directing sympathetic resonators of individually diiferent responsivity arranged in non-communicating relation to each other and independently communicating each with a respective conduit of said conveyer and having individual outlets into a common sound discharge chamber.

In a 'ihonograph, in combination, a casing, an amplifier therein adapted to communicate with a source of reproduced sound, a plurality of sympathetic resonators of individually different responsivity arranged within said casing in individually independent non-communicating relation to each other, and comprising partitions forming with the casing walls and amplifier, a series of adjacent chambers of graduated size, each chamber individually communi eating with the amplifier, and each having an individual outlet into the casing, said casing constituting a sound discharge chamber common to all of said graduated chambers. i

In a phonograph, in combination, a casing, an amplifier therein adapted to communicate with a source of reproduced sound, a plurality of sympathetic resonators of individually different responsivity arranged within said casing in individually independent non-communicating relation to each other, and comprising partitions forming with the casing walls and amplifier, a series of adjacent chambers of graduated size, each chamber individually communicating with the amplifier, and each having an individual outlet into the casing, said casing constituting a sound discharge chamber common to all of said graduated chambers, and a sounding board included in said casing and common to all of said graduated chambers.

4. In phonograph, a. walled casingincluding a sounding board, an amplifier leading through said sounding board into said cas ing, and having. a, series of dischar e openings in that portion thereof disposed within the sounding board, and a plurality of sy n pathetic resonators of individually difl'erent responsivity arranged in non-communicate ing relation to each other and independently communicating each with a respective discharge opening of said amplifier, said soundingiboard common to all of said resonators and forming a part of the walls of each.

5. In a phonograph, a walled casing. including a sounding board, an amplifier leading into said casing, aplurality of artitions arranged within said casing an defining with the walls thereof'and with the amplifier independent nonconununicatingtonal chambers of graduated size as to which the seunding board is common, each chamber having an individual inlet openin leading into said amplifier, and said chain ers havinga common discharge outlet.

6. In sound reproducing apparatus, in combination, a conveyor adapted to communicate with a source of reproduced sound, a plurality of independent, non-communieating sympathetic resonators of individually difl'erent responsivity individually communicating with said conveyer and having individual outlets into a common sound discharge chamber, and a sounding board common to all of said resonators and forming a part of the walls thereof.

In sound reproducing apparatus, a walled casing having an amplifier therein adapted to communicate With a source of reproduced sound, and a plurality of partitions arranged on either side of the amplifier and defining with the casing Walls tonal chambers independently communicating with the amplifier.

8. In sound reproducing apparatus, in combination, a conveyer adapted to communicate With a source of reproduced sound and consisting of a plurality of conduits of individually diflerent responsivity, and a plurality of sympathetic resonators of individually difi'ercnt responsivity independently communicating each with a respective conduit of said conveyor and discharging into a common sound discharge chamber.

9. In sound reproducing apparatus, in combination, a conveyer adapted to communicate with a source of reproduced sound and consisting of a plurality of conduits of individually different responsivity, a plurality of sympathetic resonators of individually different responsivity arranged in noncommunicating relation to each other and independently communicating each with a respective conduit of said conveyor, and discharging into a common sound discharge Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the chamber, and a sounding board coextensive with all of said resonators.

10. In a phonograph, a walled casing including a sounding board, spaced partitions arranged in said sounding board and defining therewith and with the casing Walls, independent tonal chambers coextensive with the sounding board, and an amplifier leading into said casin and having a plurality of openings, each ischarging into a respective tonal chamber.

11. In a phonograph, a walled casing including a sounding board, spaced partitions arranged in said sounding board and defining therewith and with the casing Walls independent tonal chambers of graduated size, and an amplifier leading into said casing through said sounding board, and having a plurality of openings in that portion thereof disposed within the sounding board, each opening discharging into a respective tonal chamber.

12. In a phonograph, a walled casing including a sounding board, an amplifier leading through said sounding board into said casing, and having a series of discharge openings in that portion thereof disposed within the sounding board, and a plurality of sympathetic resonators of individually difi'erent responsivity arranged Within said casing and independently communicatin each with a respective discharge opening 0 said amplifier.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTIAN J. F. WILFERT.

Witnesses:

CHAS. W. BAILEY, GEoRon F. Wnirnn'r.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

